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SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today held a detailed meeting with representatives of various executing agencies like NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, Beacon and Project SAMPARK to take stock of progress made so far in laying out of vast network of National Highways across the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was also attended by senior functionaries from J&K government including ACS, Forests; Principal Secretary, APD; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir/Jammu; Secretary, R&B; Secretary, Revenue; Deputy Commissioners; Chief Engineers of PWD, besides other concerned officers.
During this meeting, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the concerned executing agencies to improve their performance with regard to showcasing physical progress on ground. He observed that frequent change in timelines is not good sign and should be corroborated with clear justifications. He maintained that such unilateral change in deadlines should be avoided in future.
Dulloo directed the concerned Divisional and District administrations to regularly monitor the pace of work on these important road projects for their timely completion. He also urged them to extend full assistance to the concerned executing agencies by resolving court cases, land disputes handing over of land and other issues faced by them in smooth execution of these projects.
Moreover, the Chief Secretary took project wise appraisal of progress made so far. He enquired about the possible date of completion of work on each phase of these projects.
Regarding the different phases of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, it was apprised that the project has been distributed in several phases and work on each phase is going on simultaneously. It was given out that some phases of this project including Balsua-Hiranagar, Hiranagar-Vijaypur, Vijaypur-Kunjwani and Kunjwani-Sidhra would be completed before September, 2025.
As far as the work on Ring Road Jammu is concerned, it was revealed that the work has largely been completed with just few minor works and a tunnel to be finished now. It was given out that the same would be completed by June, 2025.
Giving details about the incomplete phases of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), it was divulged that the work on all the tunnels is going on and would be completed by June, 2026. It was further informed that the Banihal Bypass would be accomplished in the month of September this year and other viaducts by June, 2025.
Another project discussed during this meeting was the Srinagar Ring Road. The meeting was apprised that the work on project is going on with 42.8 % progress made on ground. It was added that the project is slated to be commissioned by June, 2025. The later phases of this highway including phase-II (Magam-Pandach) and phase-III (Lasjan-Pandach via Dalgate) also came under discussion during this meeting.
The progress on the upgradation of Narbal-Baramulla-Urihighway was given by the NHIDCL during the meeting. It was revealed that the work on Sangrama Flyover is 96% complete and would be thrown open by October this year. It was added that the work on Baramulla Bypass (14.2 Kms) and Pattan Bypass (10.9 Kms) would be taken in hand shortly.
In addition the status of Khanabal-Pahalgam Road (NH-501),Rafiabad-Trehgam Road, Magam-Surankot Road were reviewed. The progress on Bemina, Sanatnagar and Nowgam flyovers was also taken besides other works like rehabilitation of Jawahar Tunnel and old Chanapora Bridge was also discussed during the meeting.
The meeting also held a detailed discussion over the pace and progress made on Jammu-Akhnoor elevated corridor. It took note of the development of Tawi 4th Bridge-Satwari-Airport-Miran Sahib-RS Pura-Suchetgarh Road besides the Katra-Basholi-Bani-Baderwah-Doda Road for more reliable and alternate connectivity between these areas.
Other significant roads which came-up for discussion include Chenani-Sudhmahadev Road, Baderwah-Chamba Road, Goha-Khellani, Khellani-Khanabal Road and Rajouri-Poonch Highways to augment Road network in the Pirpanjal region.
The meeting also discussed the pace of work on major tunnels, viaducts, flyovers, Bypasses to major towns across Jammu and Kashmir. It also took note of work on Z-Morh tunnel that would ensure reliable connectivity to the tourist destination of Sonamarg. It was given out that work would be completed shortly in the month of August this year and that on Zojila tunnel by September, 2026.
KULGAM: Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare department, Sheetal Nanda today visited Kulgam and conducted Public Darbar at Mini-Secretariat here during which she listened and addressed various issues and grievances of locals.
The Public Darbar witnessed active participation of locals and public delegations from Devsar, Frisal, Qaimoo, Yaripora, D.H. Pora, Pombay, Kulgam, Manzgam, and many other areas. The participating delegations apprised the Commissioner Secretary about their issues and demands as well as developmental requirements of their areas.
Addressing the gathering, the Commissioner Secretary emphasized on government’s commitment to holistic development and timely redressal of issues and grievances of people. She assured the participants that all their genuine demands and issues will be redressed on priority.
During the darbar, the delegations put forth various demands like development of Children Park at Kulgam, road widening from clock tower to District Hospital, development of parking spaces in main town, construction of new building for tehsil office Qaimoo, augmentation of staff at Hospitals and various other demands were raised by the people from various areas.
A delegation of Specially abled persons demanded replacement scheme of motorized tricycles, quota in PMAY scheme, special recruitment drives for specially abled and other demands for welfare and betterment of specially abled persons.
All the issues and demands of people were listened patiently by the Commissioner Secretary for early redressal. Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Athar Aamir Khan, while addressing the gathering said that demands were duly noted and would be addressed with the concerned authorities for appropriate action.
The public darbar was also attended by ADC Viqar Ahmed Giri; JDP, Zahid Sajjad; ACD, Syed Naseer; ACR, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone; ACP, Nazia Hassan; SDM Noorabad, Bashir Ul Hassan; DSWO, CEO, CMO, Executive Engineers, Tehsildars and other officers from district administration.
SRINAGAR: Administrative Reforms, Inspections, and Trainings (ARI) department conducted administrative inspection of Director Colleges J&K and several key higher education institutions like SP College and Amar Singh College as part of the ongoing efforts of government to ensure excellence, adherence to educational standards and government policies.
The inspection team lead by Secretary Technical, ARI department, Dr Abdul Kabir Dar interacted extensively with the faculty, students and administrative staff, including Dean of Academic Affairs, Cluster University of Srinagar, Director Colleges, and Principal SP College.
The interactions were aimed at understanding the current educational environment, addressing any immediate concerns, identifying opportunities for further improvement and bringing reforms in the system.
During the visit, the Secretary, emphasized the critical role of higher education in the socio-economic development of Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated the commitment of ARI and trainings department to support the higher education by carrying out reforms and enhance the quality of education provided in colleges and universities across Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the highlights of the inspection was the discussion on the importance of model pro-forma devised by ARI and trainings department. The Secretary highlighted about various aspects of model pro-forma, key areas of operation that provides a structured framework for government departments to conduct official dealings with transparency and accountability.
The implementation of this pro-forma is expected to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative processes, ensuring that all official transactions are carried out with the highest standards of integrity.
Director Colleges J&K shared insights on initiatives being undertaken to improve academic standards and infrastructure within the institutions. She also spoke about the introduction of the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Admission Portal – 2023, which streamlines the admission process for all undergraduate programs in J&K State Universities.
Principals of Colleges, along with other faculty members, expressed their appreciation for the visit and the proactive approach of the department in addressing Administrative and other educational challenges. They also discussed ongoing projects and future plans to enhance the academic and infrastructural landscape of their respective colleges.
The inspection team expressed satisfaction with the progress made by institutions and reaffirmed the government’s support in bringing reforms for educational excellence in the region.
SRINAGAR: Prof. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir today assumed the charge of Director Colleges J&K. Prof. Bashir shall continue to hold the charger of Nodal Principal Kashmir Division Colleges and Principal Amar Singh College Srinagar in additional to his on duties.
After assuming charge, Prof. Bashir took a meeting with the officers and officials to assess the status of higher education sector in J&K. He remarked that the department is committed to fostering a conducive environment for learning and development, promoting innovation in teaching methodologies and enhancing the overall educational experience for students across colleges in Jammu and Kashmir.
He added that the department will strengthen academic programs, promote research culture and ensure the holistic growth of students. Having Ph.D in Electronics, Prof. Aijaz Bashir has been a prominent academician and administrator. He is also the member of prestigious Higher Education Council of J&K and has served Higher Education department for a period spanning more than thirty years.
Prof. Ajaz has also previously headed Islamia College Srinagar for a period of four years leading the autonomous college to unprecedented heights. During his tenure, Islamia College of Science and Commerce set new bench mark of academic excellence.
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today had a detailed discussion with experts over a vision document formulated by the Department of Labour & Employment to create an environment for development of entrepreneurship to generate large scale employment in the Union Territory. Present in the meeting were Director, IIM Jammu, VC, IUST, ACS, Forests, Principal Secretary, Finance, Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Secretary, Labour & Employment, Secretary, Planning, DG, Planning and others.
Dulloo, while addressing the meeting, stressed on developing a highly favourable environment for development of entrepreneurship in J&K. He directed for devising a well thought strategy amenable to give rise to an ecosystem of entrepreneurship from grassroots to top level.
He maintained that the broad contours of the strategy should comprise of identification of opportunities, complete awareness among the prospective beneficiaries about such avenues, their capacity building, credit linkage, operationalization of units and finally their handholding to ensure sustainability.
The Chief Secretary also supported having a broad-based mechanism in place for mentoring and counselling of probable entrepreneurs right from the block level with inclusion of big institutions of the UT as innovation and incubation hubs guiding the start-ups. He asked for identification of resource persons who are expert to impart training to our youth.
He emphasised linking of entrepreneurship with regular curriculum in our educational institutions for guidance and motivation of our youth towards this sector of employment generation. He asked for adopting good incentive based approach to encourage our existing enterprises besides having suitable provisions of equity, working capital, interest subvention and revolving fund to support upcoming enterprises.
Other participants also gave their inputs for implementation of the strategy. They advocated constitution of an Apex body at highest level that would monitor and coordinate the allied activities as per the adopted plan.
The preliminary plan titled as Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA), thoroughly debated today, was comprised of extending explicit support to newly emerging nano, micro and small enterprises in the shape of developing culture, infusing capital, enhancing capacity, building connectivity (market linkages) for enabling flourishing environment for these enterprises.
The document also envisages to give rise to enterprises that have the capacity to bring employability for nearly 5 lakh youth of J&K. It also envisions developing an ecosystem by creating mass awareness and bringing forth opportunities in collaboration with banks and other institutions that are viable and sustainable for the future entrepreneurs.
The document envisions transforming the employment and entrepreneurship landscape of J&K by creating a business friendly environment, equipping the workforce with 21st century skills, providing access to tailored financial products and markets and building human capacity of new and existing businesses to achieve sustainable economic growth within the UT.
Later, another meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary to have an overview of the prospective plans for large scale promotion of Handicrafts and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in J&K in collaboration with the World Bank.
Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, MD, JKTPO, Director Tourism, Jammu/Kashmir, Director Handloom & Handicrafts, Kashmir/Jammu, MD, SIDCO besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.
The Chief Secretary had insights about the broad contours of the proposals prepared by the concerned departments. He called the exercises, carried out by the respective heads, bedrock of the mega promotion plan to be taken up with the World Bank for consideration. He stressed on laying focus on introduction of modern technology, new designs, skill upgradation, credit linkages, marketing interventions while formulating their plans.
While elucidation the strategic investment plan under Raising & Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP), the MD, JKTPO first gave an overview of MSME sector followed by the salient features of RAMP Programme.
The interventions proposed for its promotion included formalization of MSME sector, interest subvention for stressed MSMEs, CGTMSE annual guarantee fee coverage, penetrative of digital financing for MSMEs, branding, packaging and publicity of ODOP/GI products of J&K, arranging buyer-seller meets, raw material & inventory management, entrepreneurship and skill development besides other measures beneficial for this sector in the UT.
In a presentation, Director Handicrafts, Kashmir threw light on the current challenges faced by the artisans of J&K, erstwhile popularity of these crafts, issues faced in its growth, previous initiatives taken by the government and the proposed interventions to be taken up in collaboration with the international body.
Other measures proposed were testing & certification centres, on-boarding on e-commerce platforms, showcasing before global audience, collaboration with international brands, skill development & upgradation, extending credit facilities, establishing trade centres, participation in trade fairs/exhibitions while observing Environment Social Responsibility (ESR) throughout the entire process.
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